Adjustable furniture base



Dec. 26, 1961 c. c. VENEMAN ADJUSTABLE FURNITURE BASE Filed Sept. 1, 1960 C AEL 6. .VsA/e/ ulv ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,014,682 ADJUSTABLE FURNITURE BASE.

Carl C. Venernau, Newport Beach, Calif., assignor to Thinline Manufacturing Co., a partnership Filed Sept. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 53,485 i 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-161) The objects and advantages of the invention will be I more readily apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: p

' FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a table supported upon the adjustable base of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the adjustable base itself; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional ,view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

As illustrated in the drawing the invention comprises a flat mounting plate A having screw holes for fastening same to the under surface of the table top, the mounting plate A being in turn welded in transverse position to the upper end of a metal tube B. A metal tube C which is of larger diameter is adapted to slidingly receive the upper tube 13, which is inserted into the upper end of the lower tube C. The lower end of tube C is secured to a footing support D. Adjustable means E are provided on the upper end of tube C for frictionally retaining the upper tube B in a selected position of vertical adjustment. An elongated helical spring F is longitudinally disposed within the two tubes for urging the upper tube B, and hence the table top, upwardly.

Footing support I) includes at least three radially extending fiat metal bars whose inner ends are welded together, and each being provided with a foot at its outer extremity. As presently illustrated the footing support includes four bars 31-34 having feet respectively designated as 35-38.

Upper tube B has a longitudinal groove 10 formed on its exterior surface which extends from the upper end of tube B to a point near its lower end. Tube B on its lower end has a set of four circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slots 12 formed therein, which in the lowermost position of tube B are adapted toengage the bars 31-34 of footing support D.

Lower tube C has a set of four circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending slots 13 formed in its lower end which engage the metal bars 31-34. The metal bars are also welded to tube C adjacent the slots 13. It will be appreciated that if three or five metal bars were utilized in footing support D the number and arrangement of the slots 12 in upper tube B and the slots 13 in lower tube C would be adjusted accordingly.

3,014,682 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 "ice 16 and 17 fastened to tube C on respective sides of longitudinal cut 15, and anadjustment bolt :20.- Ears 16, 17 have aligned openings therein, the opening 18 of ear 16 being threaded and of smaller diameter than the smooth opening 19 of ear 17. Adjustment bolt 20 has a bent handle end 23 adapted for convenient manual rotation of the bolt. The other end 21 of bolt 20' is threaded and is adapted for insertion through opening 19 of ear 17 so as to engage threaded opening 18 of ear 16. A circumferential collar 22 provided on bolt 20 is adapted for engaging the side of ear 17 that is remote from ear 16. i

In the upper end of tube C there is also provided a fixed insert 11 which projects into the interior thereof for slidingly engaging the groove 10 of tube B.

The invention is manufactured and assembled as follows: Plate A, tubes B and C, and footing support D are individually fabricated. Bars 16, 17 are welded or otherwise fastened to tube C. The upper end of tube B is welded to, plate A, and the lower end of tube C is welded to footing support D. Spring F is inserted within tube C. Tube B is then placed over the upper end of spring F and inserted downwardly into tube C.

Thereafter, the correct rotational position of tube B is determined, which will permit slots 12 to engage the bars 31- 34. The correct position of insert 11 on tube C is then determined, an opening in tube C is made in this location, and insert 11 is introduced through the opening and then welded in place.

Spring F has sufiicient length so that in the upper table position it exerts an upward thrust on tube B. Fixed insert 11 limits the upward travel of tube B, by engaging the lower end of groove 10, and thus provides the means for retaining tube B in telescoping relation-.

ship within tube C.

The fact that slots 12 pass the bars 31-34 permits a greater range of vertical adjustment. In the upper table position the slots 12 extend at least partially above the circumferential cut 14 of tube C.

The invention has been described in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent laws by providing a full public disclosure of at least one of its forms.

However, such detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.

I claim:

1. An adjustable furniture base comprising, in combination: a first vertically disposed metal tube having nally extending slots formed therein which are adapted to Tube C in its upper end has a longitudinal cut 15.

ference of tube C, and in making the longitudinal cut 15 a substantial amount of material is removed, thus providing a holding sleeve of adjustable circumference:

Adjustment means E includes first and second ears engage said bars in the lowermost position of said second tube; adjustable means secured to the upper end of said first tube for frictionally retaining said second tube in a selected position of vertical adjustment, said adjustable means engaging said slotted lower end of said second tube when said second tube is in its uppermost position; furniture mounting means attached to the upper end of said second tube; an elongated helical spring longitudinally disposed within saidfirst and second tubes for urging said second tube upwardly, said second tube having a longitudinal groove formed on its exterior surface which extends from a point near the lower end to a point near the upper end thereof; and a fixed insert tube, and slidingly engaging said groove of said second tube.

2. An adjustable furniture base comprising, in combination: a first vertically disposed metal tube having a plurality 'of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending slots formed in its lower end; a plurality of radially extending, flat metal bars, each occupying a corresponding one of said slots, the inner ends of said bars being welded together, said tube being welded to said bars; foot means provided on the outer extremity of each of said bars; a second vertically disposed metal tube slidably inserted within the upper end of said first tube, the lower end of said second tube having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending slots formed therein which are adapted to engage said bars in the lowermost position of said second tube; a fiat mounting plate attached to the upper end of said second tube; an elongated helical spring longitudinally disposed within said tubes for urging said plate upwardly; first and second ears fastened in adjacent but circumferentially spaced positions to the exterior surface of the upper end of said first tube, said ears having aligned openings therein, the opening in said first ear being threaded and being smaller than the opening in said secand ear, the upper end of said first tube having a longitudinal cut therein between said ears and a circumferential cut extending beneath said cars so as to provide a holding sleeve of adjustable circumference; an adjustment bolt having a handle end, a threaded end adapted for insertion through said opening of said second ear to engage said threaded opening of said first ear, and a circumferential collar adapted to engage said second car on the side thereof remote from said first ear; andmeans for retaining said second tube within said first tube in a fixed rotational position relative thereto.

3. An adjustable base as claimed in claim 2 in which said last-named means includes a longitudinal groove formed on the exterior surface of said second tube and a fixed insert projecting into the interior of the upper end of said first tube and slidingly engaging said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

